Coupler locklift hole cap

ABSTRACT

A coupler having a housing including a top locklift hole sealed by a removable cap. The cap is made from plastic and includes a post having a cover plate on the upper end overlying and sealing the hole. A plurality of angularly spaced legs wedgingly engage the inwardly diverging side walls defining the hole so that the cap is removable only by force applied upwardly through the lock chamber.

United States Patent 1191 Kaufhold Aug. 27, 1974 1 COUPLER LOCKLIFT HOLE CAP [75] Inventor: Horst Thomas Kaufhold, Chicago,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: AMSFED Industries Incorporated,

Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Nov. 19,1973

21 Appl. No.: 416,984

[52] US. Cl 213/158, 213/146, 213/147, 220/42 B [51] Int. Cl. B6lg 3/04 58 Field 01 Search 213/75 R, 158, 141, 146, 213/147; 220/42 B, 42 q, DIG. 19

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,262 1/1914 Jannet 220/42 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 465,006 5/1950 Canada 213/158 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church ABSTRACT A coupler having a housing including a top locklift hole sealed by a removable cap. The cap is made from plastic and includes a post having a cover plate on the upper end overlying and sealing the hole. A plurality of angularly spaced legs wedgingly engage the inwardly diverging side walls defining the hole so that the cap is removable only by force applied upwardly through the lock chamber.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COUPLER LOCKLIFT HOLE CAP BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to railway vehicle couplers and more particularly to an improved closure cap for the top locklift hole in the housing of a coupler.

Railway vehicle couplers of the type to which the present invention relates include a coupler housing on which the coupling units are assembled. The coupler housing includes a chamber in which a knuckle thrower and the lock are movably housed. The housing includes a top locklift hole in the top which communicates with the lock chamber.

It is necessary that this hole, designated as a top locklift hole, be closed by a removable plug or cap. The cap serves the function of excluding debris and other extraneous matter from collecting within the lock chamber.

A closure cap should be capable of being inserted into the top locklift hole and retained therein without using welding or special tools. At the same time, the cap should be constructed so that it is readily removable only when the coupler components are removed so as to minimize the potential for vandalism.

By the present invention it is proposed to provide a new and improved cap structure for the top locklift hole of the coupler which fulfills the requisites specified above and which is also economical to manufacture.

This is accomplished by the provision of a cap for the top locklift hole which is made from a molded plastic material. The cap generally comprises a central post which is insertable into the top locklift hole. A cover is formed integral with the upper end of the post and overlies the opening to provide a seal. Angularly spaced legs project from the base of the post and wedgingly engage the walls defining the hole so that removal of the cap is achieved only by an upward force applied through the lock chamber after removal of the coupler components.

Further features of the invention will hereinafter appear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a coupler incorporating the cap structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the cap inserted in the locklift hole.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, the cap or plug structure is shown incorporated in a coupler ll of substantially conventional construction. The coupler 11 includes generally a coupler housing 12, a knuckle 13 pivotally mounted on the housing 12, a knuckle thrower 14, a lock 16, and a locklift assembly 17. The lock 16 is vertically movable in a lock chamber 18 for movement between a release position in which the knuckle 13 is movable to an open position and a lock position in which the knuckle 13 is in a locked closed position. Access to the lock chamber 18 is provided through a top locklift hole 19 to permit the coupler 11 to be modified to top locklift operation. Normally, the

top locklift hole 19 is closed with a metal cap or plug 10 which can be removed with tools only.

The top locklift hole 19 as shown in FIG. 3 is formed with an end wall 21, side walls 22--22 connected at one end to the end wall 21 by radii 23, and a semicircular wall 24 extending between the other ends of the side walls 22-22. The walls 21, 22-22, and 24 diverge toward the inside of the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 3.

The closure cap or plug 10 is made from a plastic material such as polyethelene, polypropelene or the like and is formed as by molding. The plastic material preferably has a low modulus of elasticity.

The closure cap 10 includes an upright post 26 which may be of circular cross section. Integral with the upper end of the post 26 is a cover plate 27. The cover plate 27 is contoured similarly to the contour of the top locklift hole 19 but is of greater area to provide a marginal portion which overlies the edgeportion about the top locklift hole 19 thereby to seal the top locklift hole 19 when the cap 10 is inserted therein.

The base 28 of the post 26 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced legs 29. As shown, there are four legs 29 which extend radially from the post 26 and are angularly spaced at about relative to each other so that each one of the legs 29 is engageable with an associated one of the walls 21, 2222, and 24. The legs 29 are of a length so that a tight friction or wedge-like fit is obtained when the leg 29 of the cap 10 are inserted between the diverging walls 21, 22-22, and 24. This creates a wedging action which prevents the removal of the cap 10 from the exterior of the coupler 1 l. The cap 10 may be removed from the top locklift hole 19 only after the components within the lock chamber 18 have been disassembled and removed so that the coupler 11 may be modified to accommodate a top operating locklift assembly. Removal of the cap 10 is achieved by extending rod or similar tool upwardly through the front face opening 31 of the coupler Ill and forcing the cap 10 upwardly.

.It should be understood that the arrangement described above constitutes the preferred embodiment and that many adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a railway vehicle coupler having a housing including a top locklift hole formed with inwardly diverging walls, a plastic cap to seal said top locklift hole, said cap comprising a post, an integral cover plate on the upper end of said post for covering said top locklift hole, and a plurality of angularly spaced legs projecting from the base of said post for wedgingly engaging the diverging walls of said top locklift hole whereby said plastic cap is retained in said opening.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover plate is contoured similarly to the top lock-lift hole and of larger area to provide a marginal edge portion overlying the edge portion about the opening.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said post is cylindrical.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said angularly spaced legs radially project from the base of said post. 

1. In a railway vehicle coupler having a housing including a top locklift hole formed with inwardly diverging walls, a plastic cap to seal said top locklift hole, said cap comprising a post, an integral cover plate on the upper end of said post for covering said top locklift hole, and a plurality of angularly spaced legs projecting from the base of said post for wedgingly engaging the diverging walls of said top locklift hole whereby said plastic cap is retained in said opening.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover plate is contoured similarly to the top lock-lift hole and of larger area to provide a marginal edge portion overlying the edge portion about the opening.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said post is cylindrical.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said angularly spaced legs radially project from the base of said post. 